Iranian issue is heating up like it or not

[Odin]

U.S. Navy sends carriers near Iran By BARBARA SURK, Associated Press Writer
1 hour, 34 minutes ago



The U.S. Navy staged its latest show of military force off the Iranian coastline on Wednesday, sending two aircraft carriers and landing ships packed with 17,000 U.S. Marines and sailors to carry out unannounced exercises in the Persian Gulf.

The carrier strike groups led by the USS John C. Stennis and USS Nimitz were joined by the amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard and its own strike group, which includes landing ships carrying members of the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit.

The Navy said nine U.S. warships passed through the narrow Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday. Merchant ships passing through the busy strait carry two-fifths of the world's oil exports.

Aircraft aboard the two carriers and the Bonhomme Richard were to conduct air training while the ships ran submarine, mine and other exercises.

The maneuvers came just two months after a previous exercise in March when two U.S. carrier groups carried out two days of air and sea maneuvers off the Iranian coast.

Before the arrival of the Bonhomme Richard strike group, the Navy maintained around 20,000 U.S personnel at sea in the Gulf and neighboring waters.

U.S. warships have frequently collided with merchant ships in the busy shipping lanes of the Gulf.

(This version CORRECTS the number of carriers to two, not three.)


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Lets see what other little nuggets....

IAEA: Iran continues to defy U.N.

Oh and this little diddy....

Iran detains fourth Iranian American

the more I watch the developments with Iran and the posturing of both sides the clearer it becomes armed conflict is on the horizon. On top of all this we have rumblings in congress about a preemptive (pun intended) bill that would limit the presidents ability to wage war against Iran.

Am I reading the signs wrong?

[Don Corleone]

Maybe the engineer in me has been trained to look for patterns where there may be none. But I find these developments, as well as the continuously deteriorating situation with Russia as intrinsicly linked. I say this because whenever things 'ratchet up' with Iran, they seem to almost always 'ratchet up' with Russia.

America's greatest fear: A nuclear armed Iran.

Russia's greatest fear: An American missile shield which leaves them vulnerable and the traditional deadly balance of MAD removed.

Right now, it seems as though both of these issues are coming to a head, and I suspect that it's not a coincidence.

[Odin]

Maybe the engineer in me has been trained to look for patterns where there may be none. But I find these developments, as well as the continuously deteriorating situation with Russia as intrinsicly linked. I say this because whenever things 'ratchet up' with Iran, they seem to almost always 'ratchet up' with Russia.

America's greatest fear: A nuclear armed Iran.

Russia's greatest fear: An American missile shield which leaves them vulnerable and the traditional deadly balance of MAD removed.

Right now, it seems as though both of these issues are coming to a head, and I suspect that it's not a coincidence.

Nice observation Don, I think given the fact that Russia was unable to do anything about Iraq it might well be fueling increased rhetoric on thier side in anticipation of whats going to happen next.

Luckily for Russia (sarcasm implied here) they have a new MAD component and thats thier energy stores, Russia can hurt the eastern europeans who might host the missle shield.

[Samurai Waki]

Why does the Darth Vader song come to mind when I think of Carrier Battle Groups doing excersizes off the persian gulf?

[Odin]

Why does the Darth Vader song come to mind when I think of Carrier Battle Groups doing excersizes off the persian gulf?

You have yet to comply with and assimilate to the "empire"

[Ronin]

Why does the Darth Vader song come to mind when I think of Carrier Battle Groups doing excersizes off the persian gulf?

I find your lack of faith disturbing.
*heavy mechanical breathing*

[ShadeHonestus]

Interesting observations Don.

I believe we'll see the climate of conflict continuing to heat up with regards to Iran. I can easily see Iran continue its course of defiance through this administration. If we are not in armed conflict with Iran directly before the election than I believe Iran will be willing to become even more defiant to test the incoming administration. At some point the new administration will have to face some tough decisions. Whether to go hawk or dove the luxury will exist of being past the election.


As far as Russia is concerned, I'm personally keeping my eye on the Doomsday Clock.

[Ironside]

Maybe the engineer in me has been trained to look for patterns where there may be none. But I find these developments, as well as the continuously deteriorating situation with Russia as intrinsicly linked. I say this because whenever things 'ratchet up' with Iran, they seem to almost always 'ratchet up' with Russia.

America's greatest fear: A nuclear armed Iran.

Russia's greatest fear: An American missile shield which leaves them vulnerable and the traditional deadly balance of MAD removed.

Right now, it seems as though both of these issues are coming to a head, and I suspect that it's not a coincidence.

Now I'm letting your engineer brain work a bit more and come up with an explaination on why Russia would want Iran with nukes in that case, as Iran with nukes = few nukes = missile shield a functional idea for US defense.

[Don Corleone]

Now I'm letting your engineer brain work a bit more and come up with an explaination on why Russia would want Iran with nukes in that case, as Iran with nukes = few nukes = missile shield a functional idea for US defense.

I think the idea is

you may be able to stop us from launching ICBM's at you, but you won't be able to stop Hizbollah leaving a suitcase in Times Square. Stop building that missile shield, or we'll see to it that's exactly what happens.

The best way for the Russians to get us to stop building a missile defense shield is to introduce a consequence for building it against which, it cannot defend us.

[Devastatin Dave]

I think this is a link to Global Warming and not having enough carbon credits.

[Marshal Murat]

On the BBC there was talk of Iran launching a summer offensive (no I am not Iran) to stir the American troops out of Iraq. Something akin to a Tet Offensive where we won't lose the battle, but popular opinion will lose the war. Now, if there was a conflict with Iran, then I think that the bull waste will hit the oscillating blades.
If Bush plays it right (PR-wise) then he could get another check from the Congress to hit Iran.
However this is all subjective, and with the U.S. declaring war on so many targets, you get the feeling that the dreaded 'd' word might pop up.

[Ironside]

I think the idea is

The best way for the Russians to get us to stop building a missile defense shield is to introduce a consequence for building it against which, it cannot defend us.

Meh, those Chetchenian (sp?) terrorists with "connections" with Al-Quida has been able to "just accidently" acuire a suit-case nuke bomb by bribing some underpaid guard. Getting enough radioactive material to make a dirty bomb is even cheaper an much easier.

The traces would only be further dilluted.

If there's a connection it's more likely that Iran is used as a focuser for the US, to keep Russia new empire bulding under the radar is it's busy elsewere.

[Idaho]

Yeah it is sabre-rattling from the americans. They have royally plucked it in Iraq, and there is now overwhelming pressure for a Syria-Iran detente to create a mutually agreeable buffer state between them. The US govt know that the writing is on the wall, they just don't want to give up gracefully.

So pathetic really. Once again to all of you who backed the war - told you so.